Malaysia Program

The Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) in partnership with Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), Bar Council Migrants, Refugees and Immigration Affairs Committee (MRIAC), North South Initiative (NSI), and Migration Working Group (MWG) are inviting applications from Malaysian civil society for a special capacity building program.

The program will be designed with program participants to build knowledge, skills and networks to enhance and support civil society advocacy for the promotion and protection of migrant workers’ rights in Malaysia.

The program will bring together Malaysian advocates with advocates from countries of origin, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia to build links and networks and to develop shared advocacy strategies for greater impact in Malaysia and countries of origin.

The project was designed to fill a significant gap in knowledge and understanding of the UN Convention on Migrant Workers (CMW), which came into force in July 2003. The objective was to develop the capacity of civil society advocates to integrate international standards into effective advocacy on the rights of migrant workers in the region.

The project facilitated collaboration and exchange between a wide range of NGOs, unions and national human rights institutions across the Asia-Pacific region directly concerned with the welfare and treatment of migrant workers, as well as academics and international organizations.

The program was held in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, from 7th – 11th April, 2006. It brought together over 30 individuals (from 13 countries in the region) for a consultation and training workshop. The participants came from Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The participants ranged in experience from a former Ambassador to a domestic worker – and came from government, trade unions, NGOs and National Human Rights Institutions.

The Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) will be holding a new program (been postponed until further notice) to celebrate the 10th Anniversary on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples (Congress) and the Indigenous Law Centre have agreed to partner with DTP in piloting this new program.

From 10th February – 23rd February 2017, DTP conducted a survey of its alumni through a short questionnaire. The survey sought the input of alumni in identifying key human rights challenges in the Asia-Pacific Region and Middle East, priorities for knowledge and skills building and advice on DTP’s work in supporting networks. See results